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Mobility Assistance

Booking Your Flight

Your safety and comfort is important to us, so to make your flight as enjoyable as can be, we need to know about your special needs in advance. To ensure we know what your requirements are, you must make your booking via our Guest Contact Centre (Internet discount rate applies). Should you fail to advise us in advance, your travel may be refused.

There is a limit of two electric wheelchairs/mobility aids on A330, 737 and Embraer aircraft and a limit of one electric wheelchair on ATR72 aircraft per flight due to restrictions in our aircraft hold space. No restrictions apply to Virgin Australia international long haul flights.

It is important that you provide us with as much information as possible at the time of booking. Key information we need to know includes:

The type of mobility aid you are travelling with (electric or non-electric).

If the mobility aid is electric, what type of battery is used (gel cell (dry) or wet non-spillable).

Whether the mobility aid is collapsible.

The dimensions (height, width and length) in adjusted or disassembled state and weight of mobility aid.

Whether you are able to self transfer in and out of a wheelchair and/or an aircraft seat. Due to our Occupational Health and Safety regulations, Guests who weight more than 130kg*, and require to be transferred into or out of a wheelchair and/or an aircraft must arrange an Assistance Person (domestic) or a Carer (international) to assist with the lift.

Whether any medical assistance will be required.

* Due to Occupational Health and Safety Law, we are unable to transfer guests who weigh more than 130kg. In these circumstances we can only assist with lower body transfers (guidance of the lower body/legs while transferring). Transfers from your wheelchair to an airport/aisle wheelchair and from an airport/aisle wheelchair to an aircraft seat are performed using a slide board and slide sheet supplied by Virgin Australia.

Important: If you have a connecting flight with another airline, you will need to check and comply with their guidelines for guests with special needs.

Mobility Aid Size Restrictions

To reduce the risk of damage to your mobility aid, and to our aircraft, the following restrictions apply:

Refer to our ‘maximum dimensions’ table below. If your mobility aid is greater than the size restrictions specified (in either a folded or unfolded state), we will be unable to carry the item.

All electric mobility aids must travel in an upright position.

Electric wheelchairs must travel in the ‘free wheel’ mode.

Maximum Dimensions Table

Wheelchair/Mobility Aids

Aircraft A330, 777, 737, Embraer

Aircraft ATR 72

Height

84cm

84cm

Width

100cm

70cm

Length

125cm

90cm

Weight

120kg

120kg

If your mobility aid does not fit within these allowable dimensions (after being adjusted or disassembled) you will have to travel with an alternative mobility aid (such as a manual wheelchair) that fits within the above dimensions.

Mobility Aid Equipment Available at the Airport

Due to limited resources we can only provide assistance in certain circumstances. The following mobility assistance equipment is available when travelling with us, provided that it has been previously arranged with our Guest Contact Centre:

Aisle wheelchair (boarding/disembarking aircraft)

Manual self-propelled wheelchair

Limited number of motorised wheelchairs to allow guests who rely on a motorised wheelchair to get to and from the boarding gate, and to the arrivals hall with assistance from team members. These chairs must be booked through our Guest Contact Centre.

Slide board

Slide sheet

If you fit within our health and safety weight requirements for transferring (130kg or less in weight), our team members can assist by transferring you from your wheelchair to an airport/aisle wheelchair and from an airport/aisle wheelchair to an aircraft seat (and vice versa) with use of the slide board and slide sheet.

If you weigh more than 130kgs and require assistance with transfers you will need to arrange an Assistance Person for travel on domestic flights, and a Carer for travel on international flights. Where required, we will assist with guidance of the torso and/or legs while transferring, whether or not you have a Carer/Assistance Person.

Note: A transfer is defined as movement between your wheelchair to an airport/aisle wheelchair and from an airport/aisle wheelchair to an aircraft seat (and vice versa) utilising the slide board and slide sheet. Guidance includes guiding your upper torso (shoulders) and legs while they are being transferred using the slide board/slide sheet combination.

We are unable to perform transfers other than in accordance with our slide board and slide sheet method.

Upper Torso Harness

All Virgin Australia aircraft are equipped with upper torso harnesses to provide additional support and restraint in the aircraft seat. The harness is suitable for use for adults and children over the age of two years. Due to safety requirements, we cannot allow guests to supply their own harness. If you require the use of this harness please contact our Guest Contact Centre to make your booking.

Availability and Use of Eagle Lifts

Virgin Australia is committed to providing a safe and comfortable travel experience for all guests and its crew, particularly for guests travelling with special needs requirements. For guests travelling with Virgin Australia and who specifically require the use of Eagle Lifts; this mobility assistance equipment is currently available at the following airports:

Brisbane Domestic Airport

Sydney Domestic Airport

Melbourne Domestic Airport

Adelaide Domestic Airport

For guests travelling to airports where Eagle Lifts are not available, alternate arrangements will need to be made through speaking to a member of our Guest Contact Centre.

At the Airport

Check-in

To allow us sufficient time to take care of your travelling and seating requirements, and transfer you between wheelchairs/aircraft seat, we ask that you check in at least:

60 minutes before the scheduled departure time for domestic flights

2 hours before the scheduled departure time for international flights

Note: Do not check in via web check-in or kiosk check-in. It is important that we have the opportunity to discuss and confirm the exact level of assistance we can provide.

At check-in you will also be advised of your estimated pre-boarding time, as early boarding allows for a private transfer into the aircraft and allows time for our team members to transport wheelchairs to the aircraft hold.

Travelling with a Manual Wheelchair

You can either check in your manual wheelchair or self-propelled wheelchair for use within the airport – and we will provide you with an airport aisle wheelchair – or you can choose to take your own manual wheelchair to the boarding gate (where possible). Your wheelchair will then be stowed in the aircraft hold.

Important (domestic only): Due to security restrictions, only wheelchairs/mobility aids that have been taken through security screening on departure can be returned at the arrivals gate at your destination, otherwise you can collect your wheelchair at the arrivals carousel. This option is for manual (non-motorised) wheelchairs only, as motorised wheelchairs must be packed according to dangerous goods regulations before travel.

Travelling with a Motorised Wheelchair or Mobility Aid

After your chair has been packed, we will provide you with an airport wheelchair or our team members will assist you in a motorised wheelchair to the boarding gate. At your destination, your motorised wheelchair can be collected from the arrivals carousel. Please ensure you advise us at the time of booking that you need to use one of our motorised wheelchairs – numbers are limited and they may not be available in all ports.

Wheelchairs and similar mobility aids with batteries are permitted providing:

Battery(ies) are non-spillable or lithium ion. Virgin Australia does not permit spillable batteries.

A non-spillable battery must not contain free or unabsorbed liquid.

The battery is securely attached to the wheelchair or mobility aid.

Battery terminals are protected from short circuit – e.g. enclosed within a battery container.

Electrical circuits have been inhibited - e.g. a key switch turned off and the key carried by the guest and/or an isolation switch fitted.

Switching off a device with a push-button on/off switch alone is not sufficient and additional measures are required – e.g. Battery disconnected and terminals tapped with electrical tape.

Wheelchairs and similar mobility aids specifically designed to allow the battery(ies) to be removed by the user (e.g. collapsible) and travelling in a collapsed state are permitted providing:

Removal of the battery(ies) from the device must be performed by following the instructions of the manufacturer.

Non-spillable battery powered collapsible mobility devices:

The removed battery(ies):

Must be protected from short circuit by insulating the terminals. (e.g. by taping over exposed terminals).

Must be carried in strong rigid packaging.

Will be loaded in the cargo hold.

Lithium Battery powered collapsible mobility devices:

The removed battery(ies):

Must be protected from short circuit by insulating the terminals. (e.g. by taping over exposed terminals).

Must be protected from damage by placing each battery in a protective pouch.

Must be carried in the passenger cabin.

A battery must not exceed 300Wh, or for a device that is fitted with two batteries required for operation, each battery must not exceed 160Wh.

An additional one spare battery not exceeding 300Wh or 2 spares each not exceeding 160Wh may also be carried.

Any mobility devices with batteries less than 100Wh - Guest are permitted to carry a reasonable amount of spare batteries for their personal use.

Any spare batteries must be in carry-on baggage and be protected against short circuiting and damage.

On the Aircraft

Transferring to the Aircraft

You will be transferred into an aisle wheelchair to board the aircraft via an aerobridge (where available). At an airport without an aerobridge, you will transfer into our aisle chair at the check-in counter or on the tarmac, to be boarded onto the aircraft via the Disabled Person Lifter (DPL).

At the aircraft you will either:

For Travel on Domestic Services

Self transfer from the airport/aisle wheelchair to the aircraft seat; or

If you are unable to self transfer, and your weight is under our Occupational Health and Safety weight limitations of 130kg, we will assist you with the use of slide board and slide sheet.

If you are unable to self transfer and your weight exceeds our Occupational Health and Safety weight limitations of 130kg, you will need to arrange an Assistance Person (domestic only) in each port, or travel with a Carer. In this situation, we will assist with lower body transfers only (guidance of the torso and/or legs while transferring). You must provide a Carer or an Assistance Person to perform upper body transfers or lifts.

Note: A transfer is defined as movement between your wheelchair to an airport/aisle wheelchair and from an airport/aisle wheelchair to an aircraft seat (and vice versa) utilising the slide board and slide sheet. Guidance includes guiding your upper torso (shoulders) and legs while they are being transferred using the slide board / slide sheet combination.

On Arrival

On arrival you will be supplied with a wheelchair (manual self-propelled or motorised where available) or your own manual wheelchair upon request.

Important (domestic only): Only wheelchairs/mobility aids that were taken through security screening on departure can be returned at the arrivals gate at your destination.

Book Flights

Please note

From 3 March 2015, this route will be available to book online as a one way flight for travel from 4 April 2015.